PLANT ENGINEER

JBS USA; Perry (IA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global food company is seeking a skilled Plant Engineer to oversee maintenance and engineering design at a state-of-the-art facility. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with safety standards, designing production systems, and improving operational efficiency. This role is ideal for candidates with extensive experience in the food processing industry who are ready to contribute to a dynamic work environment.

Benefits

Vision, Medical, and Dental coverage after 60 days

Paid Time Off including sick leave and holidays

401(k) with company match

Annual bonus eligibility

Career Development and continuous learning opportunities

Qualifications

• 10+ years of engineering experience, preferably in food processing.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing engineering projects.
• Strong understanding of regulatory safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead maintenance and engineering design of plant systems for optimal performance.
• Ensure compliance with safety regulations and industry standards.
• Support long-term capital planning for operational growth.

Skills

Engineering principles

Process improvement

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or industrial engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Job description

Description Position at JBS USA

Plant Engineer

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Plant Engineer to lead maintenance and engineering design, implementation, and continuous improvement of plant systems, ensuring optimal performance, safety, and regulatory compliance. This role plays a critical part in capital planning, project execution, preventative maintenance, and cross-functional collaboration to support a brand new, state-of-the art processing facility.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with safety regulations, environmental guidelines, and industry standards, including USDA, OSHA, and local and federal codes, as applicable.
• Design, develop, and implement engineering plans for new production system including machinery, utilities, and facility infrastructure to support plant start-up, continuous operation, efficiency, modernization, and/or expansion.
• Install, test, and validate new equipment and systems to confirm they meet operational and safety standards and specifications.
• Create, evaluate, and optimize plant layouts, production lines, and manufacturing processes to improve throughput, reduce waste, and increase yields and efficiency.
• Conduct technical research and analysis on equipment and systems to stay current with market innovations and best practices.
• Collaborate with operations and HR to develop training content and programs for hourly and salaried maintenance staff.
• Identify operational risks or bottlenecks and develop effective solutions to minimize downtime and maintain production targets.
• Lead and support the long-term capital planning process, ensuring investments align with operational growth and strategic goals.
• Perform engineering risk assessments to proactively identify potential hazards and develop mitigation strategies.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive preventative maintenance program to ensure equipment reliability and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Create and enforce quality control protocols and safety measures to ensure compliance, minimize injuries, and maintain product quality.
• Oversee the inventory management of critical parts, tools, and supplies required for ongoing plant operations.
• Support additional engineering or operational projects and responsibilities as assigned by plant and business unit leadership.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or industrial engineering or a related technical discipline
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive engineering experience, ideally within the food processing industry, with preference for meat, pork, or sausage production environments.
• A deep understanding of engineering principles, process improvement, and manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated project management expertise, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines across cross-functional teams.
• Strong working knowledge of regulatory safety standards and compliance practices.
• Proven experience in budget and CAPEX development and in managing engineering/maintenance expenditures.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and analytical thinking.
• Strong adaptability and flexibility in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for interacting with internal teams, contractors, and regulatory agencies.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, and experience with CMMS and engineering software (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, etc.) is a plus.

Work Environment:

• Must be able to work in a varied production setting, including extreme cold and hot production areas, and live animal handling zones.
• Occasional lifting, climbing, and exposure to loud machinery, with the need to follow strict people safety, food safety, and personal hygiene protocols.
• On-call availability may be required for emergency maintenance or plant-related situations.

The applicant who fills this position will be eligible for the following compensation and benefits:

• Benefits: Vision, Medical, and Dental coverage begin after 60 days of employment;
• Paid Time Off: sick leave, vacation, and 6 company observed holidays;
• 401(k): company match begins after the first year of service and follows the company vesting schedule;
• Base salary range of $105,000 – $135,000;
• Incentive Pay: This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s annual bonus plan, the amount of bonus varies and is subject to the standard terms and conditions of the incentive program; and
• Career Development: Our company is dedicated to supporting professional growth by offering continuous learning opportunities and a focus on career growth through various learning and development programs.

For individuals assigned and/or hired to work in states where it is required by law to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for any given position, compensation ranges are specific to those states and takes into account various factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to a candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiencies for the role.

This position does not have an application deadline. We will continue to recruit until the position has been filled.

The Company is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our team members and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct drug, alcohol, and background checks for all new team members post-offer and prior to the start of employment. The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work.

About us: JBS USA is a leading global food company providing diversified, high-quality products to customers in approximately 100 countries on six continents. Our team members and facilities in the United States allow us to offer a diverse portfolio of fresh, value added and branded beef, pork, chicken and prepared foods products. JBS USA is also the majority shareholder of Pilgrim’s, the largest poultry company in the world. JBS USA employs more than 72,000 team members in 31 United States and Canada. Our corporate office is located in beautiful Greeley, Colorado, where our 1,200 team members onsite enjoy more than 300 days of sunshine a year.

Our mission: To be the best in all that we do, completely focused on our business, ensuring the best products and services to our customers, a relationship of trust with our suppliers, profitability for our shareholders and the opportunity of a better future for all of our team members.

Our core values are: Availability, Determination, Discipline, Humility, Ownership, Simplicity, Sincerity

EOE, including disability/vets

Unsolicited Assistance: JBS and its companies do not accept unsolicited assistance from any recruitment vendors for any of our open jobs. All resumes or candidate profiles submitted by recruitment vendors or headhunters to any employee at JBS and its companies or via the applicant tracking system, in any form without a valid written request and search agreement previously approved by HR, will be solely owned by JBS and its companies. No fees will be paid should the candidate be hired by JBS and its companies because of an unsolicited referral.